Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A printer comprising: a feeder configured to feed a print-receiving medium in a forward direction and a reverse direction along a feeding path; a printing head configured to execute printing for a desired print area of said print-receiving medium fed by said feeder; a cutter that is disposed downstream of said printing head along said feeding path and is configured to cut off said print-receiving medium at a position upstream of a print area along said feeding path, said print-receiving medium having a print formed in said print area; an image buffer; a processor; and a memory; said memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said printer to: receive a print command; analyze said received print command; expand image data corresponding to said analyzed print command in said image buffer; control said feeder to feed said print-receiving medium in said reverse direction to move a tip of said print-receiving medium positioned in a vicinity of a cutting blade of said cutter by a predetermined distance in said reverse direction; and control said feeder and said printing head to operate in cooperation with each other after expanding image data corresponding to said analyzed print command and controlling said feeder to feed said print-receiving medium in said reverse direction to form a print on a basis of said image data expanded in said image buffer on said print-receiving medium, and execute expanding image data corresponding to said analyzed print command and controlling said feeder to feed said print-receiving medium in said reverse direction in parallel to each other when said instructions are executed by said processor.
2. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to move said tip of said print-receiving medium positioned in the vicinity of said cutting blade of said cutter in said reverse direction to position said print-receiving medium such that the tip of said print area faces said printing head.
A printer system is designed to handle print-receiving media, such as paper, during printing and cutting operations. The system includes a printing head for printing on the media, a cutter with a cutting blade for trimming the media, and a processor that controls the movement of the media. The processor is configured to move the tip of the print-receiving medium in a reverse direction relative to the cutting blade. This movement positions the media such that the tip of the printed area faces the printing head, ensuring proper alignment for subsequent printing or cutting steps. The system may also include mechanisms to adjust the position of the media before or after printing, such as rollers or guides, to maintain precise control over the media's orientation. The invention addresses the challenge of accurately positioning print media to avoid misalignment during multi-step printing and cutting processes, improving efficiency and reducing waste. The processor's ability to reverse the media's movement allows for precise adjustments, ensuring the printed area is correctly oriented for further operations.
3. The printer according to claim 1 , further comprising a print data buffer, wherein the processor is further configured to produce print data corresponding to said image data expanded in said image buffer to be expanded in said print data buffer, and the processor is further configured to form said print by referring to said print data expanded in said print data buffer.
A printer system is designed to improve print processing efficiency by utilizing multiple buffer stages. The system includes a processor, an image buffer, and a print data buffer. The processor receives image data and expands it into the image buffer, which stores the expanded image data. The processor then generates print data corresponding to the expanded image data and stores this print data in the print data buffer. During printing, the processor refers to the print data stored in the print data buffer to form the final print output. This multi-stage buffering approach ensures smooth data flow, reducing processing delays and enhancing print quality by maintaining consistent data access and processing rates. The system is particularly useful in high-speed printing environments where efficient data handling is critical to performance. By separating image expansion and print data generation into distinct buffer stages, the printer avoids bottlenecks and ensures continuous, uninterrupted printing operations.
4. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein when said processor executes said instructions, and substantially simultaneously expands image data corresponding to said analyzed print command in said image buffer and controls said feeder to feed said print-receiving medium in said reverse direction.
A printer system is designed to improve print quality and efficiency by dynamically adjusting print operations based on real-time analysis of print commands. The system includes a processor that executes instructions to analyze a print command and determine optimal printing parameters. The processor then expands image data corresponding to the analyzed print command in an image buffer while simultaneously controlling a feeder mechanism to feed a print-receiving medium in a reverse direction. This simultaneous operation ensures that the print-receiving medium is properly positioned for high-quality printing, reducing delays and improving throughput. The system may also include a print head that receives the expanded image data from the image buffer and prints the image onto the print-receiving medium. The reverse feeding of the print-receiving medium allows for precise alignment and correction of any misalignment detected during the print command analysis, enhancing print accuracy. The printer system is particularly useful in applications requiring high-speed, high-precision printing, such as industrial or commercial printing environments. The simultaneous expansion of image data and reverse feeding of the print-receiving medium optimizes the printing process, reducing downtime and improving overall efficiency.
5. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein said memory stores instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said printer to further: determine whether expansion of said image data in said image buffer is successfully executed or fails, and wherein when said instructions are executed by said processor, in the case that it is determined that the expansion of said image data in said image buffer is successfully executed, said printer executes printing on a basis of said expanded image data, and in the case that it is determined that the expansion of said image data in said image buffer fails, said printer feeds said print-receiving medium in said forward direction to move the tip of said print-receiving medium by said predetermined distance in said forward direction for said tip to be positioned in the vicinity of said cutting blade, and after said printer feeds said print-receiving medium in said forward direction, said processor newly receives the print command, analyzes said received print command, expands image data corresponding to said analyzed print command, controls said feeder to feed said print-receiving medium in said reverse direction and controls said feeder and said printing head to operate in cooperation with each other to form the print.
This invention relates to a printer system designed to handle print command processing and media feeding in the event of image data expansion failures. The printer includes a processor, memory, feeder, printing head, and cutting blade. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the printer to determine whether expansion of image data in an image buffer is successful or fails. If expansion succeeds, the printer proceeds with printing based on the expanded image data. If expansion fails, the printer feeds the print-receiving medium forward to position its tip near the cutting blade. After this forward feed, the processor receives a new print command, analyzes it, and expands the corresponding image data. The printer then feeds the medium in reverse and coordinates the feeder and printing head to execute the print operation. This system ensures proper handling of failed expansions by repositioning the medium and retrying the print process, improving reliability in printing operations.
6. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein said memory stores instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said printer to further: determine whether expansion of said image data in said image buffer is successfully executed or fails, and wherein when said instructions are executed by said processor, in the case that it is determined that the expansion of said image data in said image buffer is successfully executed, said printer executes printing on a basis of said expanded image data, and in the case that it is determined that the expansion of said image data in said image buffer fails, said processor newly receives the print command, analyzes said received print command, expands image data corresponding to said analyzed print command, and controls said feeder and said printing head to operate in cooperation with each other to form the print.
This invention relates to a printer system designed to handle image data expansion and printing operations. The printer includes a processor, a memory, a feeder, and a printing head. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the printer to process print commands and manage image data expansion in an image buffer. The system determines whether the expansion of image data in the buffer is successful or fails. If expansion is successful, the printer proceeds to print based on the expanded image data. If expansion fails, the processor receives a new print command, analyzes it, expands the corresponding image data, and coordinates the feeder and printing head to execute the print operation. This approach ensures reliable printing by retrying the process when initial expansion fails, preventing data corruption or incomplete prints. The system optimizes resource usage by dynamically handling expansion errors and ensuring seamless operation. The invention is particularly useful in environments where print jobs involve large or complex image data that may require multiple attempts to process correctly.
7. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined distance is set to be variable by said print command.
A printer system is designed to control the distance between a print head and a print medium during printing operations. The system includes a print head for depositing ink onto a print medium, a distance adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the print head and the print medium, and a controller for controlling the distance adjustment mechanism based on a print command. The controller sets the distance to a predetermined value, which can be adjusted dynamically during printing to optimize print quality. The distance adjustment mechanism may include a motor or actuator that moves the print head or the print medium to achieve the desired spacing. The system may also include sensors to monitor the distance in real-time and provide feedback to the controller. The print command specifies the desired distance, allowing for customization based on factors such as print medium type, ink properties, or environmental conditions. This variable distance control improves print accuracy and reduces defects like smudging or ink bleeding. The system may be used in various printing applications, including inkjet, laser, or 3D printing, where precise distance management is critical for performance.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, storing a printing process program to be readable for a computing device, for executing steps on the computing device provided in a printer that comprises a feeder configured to feed a print-receiving medium in a forward direction and a reverse direction along a feeding path; a printing head configured to execute printing for a desired print area of said print-receiving medium fed by said feeder; a cutter that is disposed downstream of said printing head along said feeding path and is configured to cut off said print-receiving medium at a position upstream of a print area along said feeding path, said print-receiving medium having a print formed in said print area; and an image buffer, said steps comprising: receiving a print command; analyzing said print command received; expanding image data corresponding to said analyzed print command in said image buffer; controlling said feeder to feed said print-receiving medium in said reverse direction to move a tip of said print-receiving medium positioned in a vicinity of a cutting blade of said cutter by a predetermined distance in said reverse direction; and controlling said feeder and said printing head to operate in cooperation with each other after expanding image data corresponding to said analyzed print command and controlling said feeder to feed said print-receiving medium in said reverse direction, to form a print on a basis of said image data expanded in said image buffer on said print-receiving medium, and wherein said expanding image data corresponding to said analyzed print command and controlling said feeder to feed said print-receiving medium in said reverse direction are concurrently executed in parallel to each other.
This invention relates to a printing system that optimizes the printing process by coordinating the movement of a print-receiving medium with image data expansion. The problem addressed is the inefficiency in traditional printing systems where image data expansion and medium feeding occur sequentially, leading to delays. The solution involves a printer with a feeder that moves the print-receiving medium in forward and reverse directions, a printing head, a cutter positioned downstream of the printing head, and an image buffer. The system receives a print command, analyzes it, and expands the corresponding image data in the buffer. Concurrently, the feeder moves the tip of the print-receiving medium backward by a predetermined distance to position it correctly for printing. After the image data is fully expanded, the feeder and printing head cooperate to print the image on the medium. The cutter, located downstream, can trim the medium upstream of the printed area. The parallel execution of image data expansion and reverse feeding reduces idle time, improving printing efficiency. This approach is particularly useful in high-speed printing environments where minimizing delays is critical.
Unknown
February 25, 2020
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.